Angle dozer assembly

ABSTRACT

An angle dozer assembly including a C-frame supported by a tractor. A pair of thrust members extend rearwardly from a moldboard and each terminates with a carriage which is slidable along the C-frame to different locked positions for purposes of angling the moldboard.

United States Patent Polzin et al.

[ 1 May 16, 1972 ANGLE DOZER ASSEMBLY Dwaine'N. Polzin, Hudson; Leslie J. Lesko, Novelty, both of Ohio Inventors:

Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

July 15, 1970 Filed:

Appl. No.:

us. a ..172/s04, 172/805, 292/238 Int. Cl. "Eons/76 Field 6: Search ..172/805, 803, 804, 806;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,767 9/1968 Hermiz ..172/805 3,122,850 3/1964 Rockwell .l72/803X 2,412,574 12/l946 French ..l72/804 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerStephen C. Pellegrino Attorney-J. L. Carpenter and E. J. Biskup [5 7] ABSTRACT An angle dozer assembly including a C-frame supported by a tractor. A pair of thrust members extend rearwardly from a moldboard and each terminates with a carriage which is slidable along the C-frame to different locked positions for purposes of angling the moldboard.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures I P'ATfNTenmls m2 3.662.838

2/ INVENTORS EL Jes/z'e Jesio A T TORNEY ANGLE DOZER ASSEMBLY The invention concerns an angle dozer assembly and more particularly a support arrangement for providing adjustable positioning of a moldboard. Angle bulldozers are most often used in pioneering, road building, and benching operations, and generally include a C-framepivotally connected to a tractor for powered movement about a transverse horizontal axis. A moldboard is supported at the front end of the C-frame with the outer ends of the moldboard connected to the side arms of the C-frame by hinged thrust members which support tilt struts. The rear end of each thrust member is adapted to be locked in several positions along the length of the C-frame side arms to permit the moldboard to be located in a straightacross position and an angled position. In some cases, the adjustment of the moldboard must be made by hand with a lift cylinder holding the blade clear of the ground. During such adjustment, the rear end of the thrust member is bodily disassembled from the C-frame by removing a lock pin and the moldboard is walked about its central pivotal connection with the C-frame toward the desired angled position. Because of the weight of the moldboard and attached components, normally several men are required to accomplish the angling operation.

The present invention concerns an angle dozer assembly of the above-described type but differs therefrom primarily in that it incorporates a unique carriage which permanently connects the rear of each thrust member to the C-frame and permits sliding movement therealong when the moldboard is being adjusted to a desired angled position. In the preferred form. the carriage comprises a'U-shaped base member supportedby the side arm of the C-frame for movement along elongated guide rails. A ball stud projects laterally outwardly from the base member and serves as one part of a universal joint which connects the carriage with the thrust member. At least three axially spaced apertures extend through the guide rail and the C-frame and serve to'accommodate a manually removable pin adapted to extend through the base member into the apertures so as to lock the carriage in place on the C- frame. The three apertures constitute stations for locating the blade in an angled-left position, a straight-across position, and an angled-right position. In addition, a retainer device is carried by the base member and is automatically movable into a position wherein a portion thereof is located above the lock pin for preventing the latter from being ejected during a dozing operation.

One advantage of the angle dozer assembly made according to the present invention is that it permits the tractor operator to angle the moldboard without requiring the assistance of another man. This is realized by having each thrust member provided with appropriate stop members at the opposite ends of each guide rail that are contacted by the carriage during adjusting movement of the moldboard for establishing the angled-left and angled-right positions. The straight-across position of the moldboard is attained when the carriage contacts a rod placed in a hole located adjacent to the center aperture formed in the guide rail.

The objects of the present invention are to provide an angle dozer assembly having thrust members that are adjustably carried by a C-frame and are adapted to be locked thereto through a manually removable pin; to provide a carriage which serves to connect the thrust members of an angle dozer assembly to the C-frame and is slidable along guide rails to predetermined positions during angling adjustment of the moldboard; to provide a carriage which forms a part of an angle dozer assembly and permits rapid adjustment of the moldboard by cooperating with prelocated stop members which define the angled-left position, straight-across position, and angled-right position of the moldboard; and to provide an angle bulldozer which incorporates a slidable carriage for supporting the rear end of the thrust member and has a manually removable locking pin which is normally retained in position during a dozing operation by a retainer device supported by the carriage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing a crawler tractor incorporating an angle dozer assembly made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the crawler tractor and the angle dozer assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but shows the moldboard of the angle dozer assembly located in an angled position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and shows the carriage employed with the angle dozer assembly, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a retainer device used for preventing removal of a lock pin which forms a part of the carriage shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a crawler tractor 10 is shown having the usual drive sprocket l2 and idler wheel 14 located on each side of the tractor. An endless track 16 is entrained about the drive sprocket l2 and the idler wheel 14 and is provided with a plurality of equally spaced ground-engaging grousers 18. The forward end of the tractor 10 is equipped with an angle dozer assembly 20 made in accordance with the invention and including a C-frame 22 having laterally spaced generally parallel side arms 24 and 26 located outboard of each endless track 16 and connected at the rear ends thereof to the tractor roller frames 28 by spherical connections 30 and 32. The forward end of the C-frame 22 rigidly carries a ball stud 34 which is retained within a socket device 36 located in the rear of a transverse moldboard 38 adjacent the lower portion thereof. The moldboard 38 is supported by the ball stud 34 for universal movement and is of the conventional type having a transverse cutting blade 40 located at the forward lower end and a curved outer surface 42 causing cut material to flow forwardly during a dozing operation. I

The outer ends of the moldboard 38 are connected to the side arms 24 and 26 of the C-frame 22 by thrust members 44 and 46, each of which has the forward end thereof provided with a ball stud 48 located within a suitable bearing pocket formed in the moldboard 38. The rear end of each thrust member 44 and 46 is connected to the C-frame 22 through a carriage 50, shown in detail in FIG. 4 and which will be described more fully hereinafter. The thrust members 44 and 46 serve as supports for screw-type jacks 52 and 54, each of which has its rear end connected by a ball joint 56 to a support bracket 58 fixed to the thrust member. The front end of each jack 52 and 54 is also connected by a ball joint 60 to the upper rear corner of the moldboard 38. It will also be noted that a vertically orientated hydraulic lift cylinder 62 is provided between the front upper portion of the tractor 10 and a pivotal joint 64 on the C-frame 22 and is combined with a suitable hydraulic system (not shown) permitting pressurized fluid to be directed to the lower end of the lift cylinder 62 for raising the entire angle dozer assembly 20 about a transverse horizontal axis passing through the spherical connections 30 and 32.

The angle dozer assembly 20 described above permits the moldboard 38 to be tilted at either end by appropriate adjustment of the length of jacks 5 2 and 54. In addition, as seen in FIG. 3, the moldboard 38 can be angled about a vertical axis passing through the ball stud 34 to an angled-left position as shown in full lines or to an angled-right position, in which case the moldboard 38 would assume the position shown in phan- 1 tom lines. Both of the angled positions are realized through the support arrangement provided by the carriage 50 which serves to connect each of the thrust members 44 and 46 to the C-frame 22.

In this regard and with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it will be noted that each of the side arms 24 and 26 of the C-frame 22 takes the form of a box section, the upper surface of which rigidly supports an elongated guide rail 66 which extends along the longitudinal axis of the arm. The lower surface of each side arm 24 and 26 supports a similar guide rail 68 which,

together with the guide rail 66, is provided with longitudinally aligned and vertically extending apertures 70, 72 and 74. Each of the apertures 70, 72 and 74 register with a tube 76 fixed within the arm and serve as locating stations pennitting the carriage 50 on each side arm 24 and 26 to assume an angledleft position, a straight-across position, and an angled-right position in a manner to be described. As best seen in FIG. 4, the carriage 50 comprises a U-shaped base member 78 having generally parallel and vertically spaced legs 79 and 80, each of which terminates with a bar 81 that extends inwardly for retaining the base member 78 on the guide rails 66 and 68. Vertically aligned bores 82 and 84 are respectively formed in the legs 79 and 80 and the latter are interconnected by a vertically orientated base section 86 which rigidly carries a ball stud 88 that forms one part of a spherical connection provided at the rear end of each thrust member.

Thus from the above description, it should be apparent that the carriage 50 permits the rear end of each thrust member 44 and 46 to slide along the length of the associated side arm of the C-frame 22. It will be noted, however, that in order to properly position the carriage 50 at the desired station along the C-frame, stop members 90 and 92 are located at the opposite ends of each of the guide rails. In addition, as best seen in FIG. 3, appropriate holes 94 and 96 are formed in the side arms 24 and 26 and are equally spaced on opposite sides of the central aperture 72 for the reception of a rod which can be quickly placed therein by the tractor operator. The rod, of course, will act as a stop for the carriage 50 as the latter moves along the side arm. Once the carriage 50 is located at the desired station by either the stop member or the rod, a pin 98 having a handle 100 is inserted through the bore 82 in the carriage 50 into the aperture formed in the guide rail 66, and moves through the tube 76, the guide rail 68, and the bore 84. As a result, the carriage 50 and, accordingly, the rear end of the thrust arm are locked in position on the C-frame 22.

As seen in FIG. 5, the carriage 50 also carries a retainer device 102 which includes a lever 104 pivotally supported by a pivotal connection 106 on an upstanding bracket 108 rigid with the leg 79 of the base member 78. The lever 104, when in the full line position, causes a forwardly projecting portion 110 having inclined surfaces 110 and 110" to be located above the pin 98 so that the pin 98 is limited in upward movement to the phantom line position to thereby prevent the latter from accidentally being ejected from its accommodating aperture during a dozing operation. When the lever 104 is manually pivoted to the phantom line position, the portion 110 is retracted so the pin 98 can be removed by grasping the handle 100 and applying an upward force.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Assuming the moldboard 38 is located in the straight-across position shown in FIG. 2 and it is desired to move the moldboard 38 to the angledleft position of FIG. 3, the operator will first move the lever 104 of each carriage 50 to the phantom line position shown in FIG. and remove the pin 98 from the aperture 72 in the side arms 24 and 26. Thereafter, the operator can position the left end of the moldboard 38 (lower end as seen in FIG. 2) against a tree or large boulder and drive the tractor l0 forward slowly. During such time, the carriage 50 on side arm 24 will move rearwardly while the other carriage 50 on side arm 26 will move forwardly along the guide rails 66 and 68 until the carriages engage the stop members 90 and 92. At such time, the carriages 50 will be properly positioned relative to the apertures 70 and 74 and the operator can place the pins 98 through the base member 78 into the respective apertures, as explained above, so as to lock the carriages in position and proceed to use the bulldozer for the particular operation for which the moldboard 38 has been angled. It will be noted that, as seen in FIG. 5, when the pin 98 is being inserted into the bore 82 in the base member 78, the lower end of the pin 98 will first contact the inclined upper surface 1 on the portion 110 of the lever 104 and cause the latter to pivot out of the path of the pin counterclockwise about the pivotal connection 106 to the phantom line position. When the pin 98 is completely inserted into the carriage 50, the lever 104 will then automatically resume its normal pin retaining position as shown in full lines because of the longer and consequently heavier end of the lever being located to the right of the pivotal connection 106. Thus, as alluded to hereinbefore, the pin 98 is limited in upward movement to the phantom line position of FIG. 5 and is thereby prevented by the portion 110 from being dislodged from the accommodating opening.

It should be apparent that movement of the moldboard 38 to the angled-right position (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3) would be accomplished following the preliminary steps mentioned above and having the right end of the moldboard 38 (upper end as seen in FIG. 2) set against an immovable object as the tractor 10 is driven forward slowly. When the carriage 50 on side arm 24 contacts stop member and carriage 50 on side arm 26 contacts stop member 92, the operator will then proceed to insert the pins 98 into the apertures 70 and 74 to lock the carriages in place.

When the moldboard 38 is to reassume its straight-across position from the angled-right position, the operator will insert rods into holes 94 and 96 in side arms 26 and 24, respectively, and cause the left end of the moldboard to be rotated clockwise about the ball stud 34 as viewed in FIG. 3. Thereafter, appropriate notches 112 and 114 formed in each of the carriages, as seen in FIG. 3, will engage the rods and properly position the carriages relative to the apertures 72 in the side arms. Obviously, the rods would be placed in the opposed holes in each of the side arms 24 and 26 if the moldboard were being moved from an angled-left position to the straight-across position.

Various changes and modifications can be made in this construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such changes and modifications are contemplated by the inventors and they do not wish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An angle dozer assembly for a tractor including a C- frame having a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel arms located on opposite sides of the tractor, each of said arms having an elongated guide rail fixed thereto and located along the longitudinal axis of said arm, a moldboard having the rear portion thereof connected to a forward central point of said C- frame for adjustable movement about a vertical axis, a thrust member extending rearwardly from each lower corner of the moldboard, a carriage mounted on each arm for connecting the rear of each thrust member to the C-frame, said carriage comprising a base member carried by the associated arm for movement along said guide rail, each of said arms having at least three axially spaced and longitudinally aligned apertures formed therein and serving as stations for locating the moldboard in an angled-left position, a straight-across position, and an angled-right position, a manually removable pin carried by said base member and adapted to be located in one of said spaced apertures for locking the thrust member in one of said positions on said C-frame, and a pin retainer device rotatably carried by said base member and having a portion normally located in the path of movement of said pin for maintaining the latter in the accommodating aperture during a dozing operation.

2. The angle dozer assembly of claim 1 wherein said pin retainer device comprises a lever supported by a pivotal connection on said base member and said portion is a part of said lever having an inclined surface engageable by said pin when the latter is inserted into the carriage.

3. The angle dozer assembly of claim 2 wherein said pivotal connection is so located on the lever that said portion is movable due to gravitational forces into the path of movement of said pin after the latter is fully inserted into the carriage.

4. An angle dozer assembly for a tractor including a C- frame having a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel arms located on opposite sides of the tractor, each of said arms having an upper surface and a lower surface rigidly formed with an elongated guide rail located along the longitudinal axis of said arm, a moldboard having the rear portion thereof connected by a universal joint to a forward central point of said C- frame so as to provide adjustable movement of the moldboard about a vertical axis, a thrust member extending rearwardly from each lower corner of the moldboard, a carriage mounted on each arm for connecting the rear of each thrust member to the C-frame, said carriage comprising a generally U-shaped base member carried by the associated arm for movement along said guide rails, each of said arms having at least three vertically orientated and axially spaced apertures formed therein along the longitudinal axis thereof and serving as stations for locating the moldboard in an angled-left position, a straight-across position, and an angled-right position, and a manually removable pin carried by said base member and adapted to be located in one of said spaced apertures for locking the thrust member in one of said positions on said C- frame, and a lever pivotally carried by said base member and having a portion normally located above said pin for maintaining the latter in the accommodating aperture during a dozing operation.

t k k 

1. An angle dozer assembly for a tractor including a C-frame having a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel arms located on opposite sides of the tractor, each of said arms having an elongated guide rail fixed thereto and located along the longitudinal axis of said arm, a moldboard haVing the rear portion thereof connected to a forward central point of said Cframe for adjustable movement about a vertical axis, a thrust member extending rearwardly from each lower corner of the moldboard, a carriage mounted on each arm for connecting the rear of each thrust member to the C-frame, said carriage comprising a base member carried by the associated arm for movement along said guide rail, each of said arms having at least three axially spaced and longitudinally aligned apertures formed therein and serving as stations for locating the moldboard in an angled-left position, a straight-across position, and an angled-right position, a manually removable pin carried by said base member and adapted to be located in one of said spaced apertures for locking the thrust member in one of said positions on said Cframe, and a pin retainer device rotatably carried by said base member and having a portion normally located in the path of movement of said pin for maintaining the latter in the accommodating aperture during a dozing operation.
 2. The angle dozer assembly of claim 1 wherein said pin retainer device comprises a lever supported by a pivotal connection on said base member and said portion is a part of said lever having an inclined surface engageable by said pin when the latter is inserted into the carriage.
 3. The angle dozer assembly of claim 2 wherein said pivotal connection is so located on the lever that said portion is movable due to gravitational forces into the path of movement of said pin after the latter is fully inserted into the carriage.
 4. An angle dozer assembly for a tractor including a C-frame having a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel arms located on opposite sides of the tractor, each of said arms having an upper surface and a lower surface rigidly formed with an elongated guide rail located along the longitudinal axis of said arm, a moldboard having the rear portion thereof connected by a universal joint to a forward central point of said C-frame so as to provide adjustable movement of the moldboard about a vertical axis, a thrust member extending rearwardly from each lower corner of the moldboard, a carriage mounted on each arm for connecting the rear of each thrust member to the C-frame, said carriage comprising a generally U-shaped base member carried by the associated arm for movement along said guide rails, each of said arms having at least three vertically orientated and axially spaced apertures formed therein along the longitudinal axis thereof and serving as stations for locating the moldboard in an angled-left position, a straight-across position, and an angled-right position, and a manually removable pin carried by said base member and adapted to be located in one of said spaced apertures for locking the thrust member in one of said positions on said C-frame, and a lever pivotally carried by said base member and having a portion normally located above said pin for maintaining the latter in the accommodating aperture during a dozing operation. 